Improvement in spring-buffers for trunks



E. N. GEER.

Spring-Buffer for Trunks. No.163,863. I Patentedlune1,1875.

THE GRAPHIC CILPHOTO -LITH.39&41 PARK PLACE,N.Y.

NTTED TATES PATENT ()FFIC ELLIOT N. GEER, OF COREY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-BUFFERS FO R TRUNKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,863, dated June 1, 1875; application filed September 15, 1874.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELLIOT N. GEER, of Corry, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Spring-Buffer and Caster for Trunks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my springbufl'er applied to a trunk. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same; Fig. 3, a sectional view representing a spring-butter and caster combined; and Fig. 4, a perspective view of the same.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawing'denote the same parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction of spring-butters for trunks, and to provide for public use a combined spring-buffer and caster. To these ends the invention consists in constructing the springbufler with a knob or boss of metal backed by a concealed rubber or other suitable spring, both inclosed in an angular socket adapted to be attached to the corners of a trunk, the boss projecting beyond the socket, and receiving the shocks and jars to which the trunk is naturally subjected.

In the drawings, A represents an angular socket adapted to be attached to the corner of a trunk. The mouth of the socket A is circular, and is provided with an inwardlyprojecting bead or flange, a. B represents a circular boss or butter of metal, fitting the mouth of the socket A, and projecting through it, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner end of the buffer B is provided with a flange, b, which prevents its removal from the mouth of the socket. The buffer B is backed by a rubber spring, 0, preferably of a tubular form, which is inclosed in the socket, and bears against a beveled seat on the tram k, and holds the flange of the buffer B against the flan go a at the mouth of the socket, with its outer end projecting, so as to perform the usual function of a buffer, the spring 0 yielding and relieving the shock on the buffer resulting from contact with surrounding objects in the usual violent handling of trunks.

It will be seen, therefore, that the metallic boss protects the spring, while the spring re= lieves the boss, the two parts operating mutually, and constituting a buffer much more durable than those made entirely of rubber, such as are in common use.

Figs. 3 and 4 represent a modification of my invention, in which the metallic bufier B is elongated, and provided at one end with ears, in which a caster-roller, R, is journaled. The socket A is correspondingly elongated, and each isprovided with a flange for preventing the removal of the buffer, like those already described. The back of the buffer B is concave, and a rubber spring, 0, of corresponding form is interposed between it and a convex seat formed on the corner of the trunk.

When the device thus constructed is applied to the trunk, as shown, the caster projects downward, and constitutes ayielding support for the trunk, while the buffer projects outward and protects the side. The caster is thus relieved, and is less liable to breakage than the ordinary kind, while the expense of the combined caster and buffer is but little more than that of the buffer alone.

The form of the springs, sockets, and metallic buffers may be varied to adapt them to different positions and circumstances without departing from the spirit of my invention; and rubber or other suitable material may be used for the springs.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new is 1. A spring-buffer for trunks composed of a metallic boss and a rubber or other spring, both held in a suitable socket, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. The angular socket A, provided with an inwardly-projecting flange, a, at its mouth, in combination with the spring 0 and boss B, the latter having the flange b, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

3. The elongated metallic butter B, having the roller R and the concave back, in combination with the elongated socket A and spring 0, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

I ELLIOT N. GEER.

Witnesses THOMAS BLACKBURN, HUNTER SMITH. 

